the only people leaving.
“Did you notice anything odd when you were in the gallery?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” V replied. “Is there a problem?”
Noli’s heart stuck in her throat and a million thoughts raced through her head—not one of them good.
“We caught two men trying to steal something; I wanted to know if you saw anything,” Officer Davies said.
All the air whooshed out of her. He wasn’t after them. Officer Davies shot her a look.
Two men. Noli remembered something. “After V left to dance with Missy, I saw two strange men in the hallway. By strange, I mean that they looked like gentlemen, but were unfamiliar to me. I don’t remember what they looked like.”
Maybe that would keep them off their path.
“Thank you, Noli.” Someone called for Officer Davies. “Have a nice evening.”
“You as well, Officer,” V replied. They walked to the car and got in. James took off.
“So?” James gave them an expectant look as they sped away.
“We’re good.” Noli patted her handbag, the jewel inside. Elation still coursed through her—they’d done it. “Now, let’s go home. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
Seven
Complications
A click startled Steven awake. He rubbed his eyes and peered at the air pirate standing in the doorway of Noli’s guest room, pistol drawn. “Vix, I’m nowhere near Noli.”
Shrugging, she holstered her pistol and left muttering, “Breakfast is ready.”
Steven dressed and padded down to the kitchen. His nose twitched at the smell of pancakes and his mouth watered. Everyone was there—Vix, James, and Jeff, and Noli cooking.
Jeff was sitting at the table reading the paper. The headline read Jewel Stolen at Museum Ball.
“You’re lucky,” he said, glancing up at Steven. “Apparently two men were caught trying to steal the gem. Then, while the police were busy with them, someone else actually stole the gem. The other men disappeared too. Noli was right—the ball was a great cover for a robbery.”
Someone had stolen the fake. A load lifted off Steven’s chest, then slammed down so hard he gasped. “What if they realize it’s fake?”
“Wouldn’t they have to be magic?” Jeff hid behind the newspaper.
Noli handed Steven a cup of tea, flashing him a large smile.
“Those would be the people I’d worry about.” Steven took the offered cup.
“We’ll handle them.” Noli returned with plates of food.
“Are we doing more boring research today?” James stuffed food in his mouth.
Noli sat at the crowded table, on a fifth chair brought in from the dining room. “I need to be at the shop at ten. Jeff, if Jo comes to call will you please tell her where I am?”
“What you should be doing is getting that thing out of here.” Jeff put away his paper so he could eat. “Go hide it in fairyland or something.”
“We will; I’m just about finished. I’m going to see if Quinn sent us an aethergraph. I’m still worried about him and Elise.” Steven took a bite. “Excellent breakfast, Noli.”
Noli smiled, her eyes shining in the morning light. “I appreciate the compliment. I finished my applications this morning. Will you drop them off for me at Mr. Thompson’s shop when you check for aethergraphs? Please?”
“That was fast.” He took another bite of delicious pancake.
“I only completed three. I still have to ask some of my teachers for letters.” Noli paused, fork halfway to her mouth. “Do you think the fact I’m not in school will affect my application?”
“Same as it will mine,” Steven replied. “I’ll send off yours and mine, though I only have one.” It was odd that she could think about going to university at a time like this. But this was her dream, so naturally she’d be excited. “If you write some requests to your teachers, I can drop those off as well,” he offered.
The look on her face said it all. He was actually looking forward to spending four years with her in the mortal realm,
“Did you notice anything odd when you were in the gallery?” he asked.
“No, not at all,” V replied. “Is there a problem?”
Noli’s heart stuck in her throat and a million thoughts raced through her head—not one of them good.
“We caught two men trying to steal something; I wanted to know if you saw anything,” Officer Davies said.
All the air whooshed out of her. He wasn’t after them. Officer Davies shot her a look.
Two men. Noli remembered something. “After V left to dance with Missy, I saw two strange men in the hallway. By strange, I mean that they looked like gentlemen, but were unfamiliar to me. I don’t remember what they looked like.”
Maybe that would keep them off their path.
“Thank you, Noli.” Someone called for Officer Davies. “Have a nice evening.”
“You as well, Officer,” V replied. They walked to the car and got in. James took off.
“So?” James gave them an expectant look as they sped away.
“We’re good.” Noli patted her handbag, the jewel inside. Elation still coursed through her—they’d done it. “Now, let’s go home. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
Seven
Complications
A click startled Steven awake. He rubbed his eyes and peered at the air pirate standing in the doorway of Noli’s guest room, pistol drawn. “Vix, I’m nowhere near Noli.”
Shrugging, she holstered her pistol and left muttering, “Breakfast is ready.”
Steven dressed and padded down to the kitchen. His nose twitched at the smell of pancakes and his mouth watered. Everyone was there—Vix, James, and Jeff, and Noli cooking.
Jeff was sitting at the table reading the paper. The headline read Jewel Stolen at Museum Ball.
“You’re lucky,” he said, glancing up at Steven. “Apparently two men were caught trying to steal the gem. Then, while the police were busy with them, someone else actually stole the gem. The other men disappeared too. Noli was right—the ball was a great cover for a robbery.”
Someone had stolen the fake. A load lifted off Steven’s chest, then slammed down so hard he gasped. “What if they realize it’s fake?”
“Wouldn’t they have to be magic?” Jeff hid behind the newspaper.
Noli handed Steven a cup of tea, flashing him a large smile.
“Those would be the people I’d worry about.” Steven took the offered cup.
“We’ll handle them.” Noli returned with plates of food.
“Are we doing more boring research today?” James stuffed food in his mouth.
Noli sat at the crowded table, on a fifth chair brought in from the dining room. “I need to be at the shop at ten. Jeff, if Jo comes to call will you please tell her where I am?”
“What you should be doing is getting that thing out of here.” Jeff put away his paper so he could eat. “Go hide it in fairyland or something.”
“We will; I’m just about finished. I’m going to see if Quinn sent us an aethergraph. I’m still worried about him and Elise.” Steven took a bite. “Excellent breakfast, Noli.”
Noli smiled, her eyes shining in the morning light. “I appreciate the compliment. I finished my applications this morning. Will you drop them off for me at Mr. Thompson’s shop when you check for aethergraphs? Please?”
“That was fast.” He took another bite of delicious pancake.
“I only completed three. I still have to ask some of my teachers for letters.” Noli paused, fork halfway to her mouth. “Do you think the fact I’m not in school will affect my application?”
“Same as it will mine,” Steven replied. “I’ll send off yours and mine, though I only have one.” It was odd that she could think about going to university at a time like this. But this was her dream, so naturally she’d be excited. “If you write some requests to your teachers, I can drop those off as well,” he offered.
The look on her face said it all. He was actually looking forward to spending four years with her in the mortal realm,
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